Bourgoin. This person was an engraver, particularly recommended to
Dr. Franklin and Mr. Hopkinson. Perhaps he may have mislaid the little
parcel of rice among his baggage. I am much pleased, that the sale
of western lands is so successful. I hope they will absorb all the
certificates of our domestic debt speedily, in the first place, and that
then, offered for cash, they will do the same by our foreign ones.
The season admitting only of operations in the cabinet, and these
being in a great measure secret, I have little to fill a letter, I
will therefore make up the deficiency, by adding a few words on the
constitution proposed by our convention.
I like much the general idea of framing a government, which should go on
of itself, peaceably, without needing continual recurrence to the
State legislatures. I like the organization of the government into
legislative, judiciary, and executive. I like the power given the
legislature to levy taxes, and for that reason solely, I approve of the
greater House being chosen by the people directly. For though I think
a House, so chosen, will be very far inferior to the present Congress,
will be very illy qualified to legislate for the Union, for foreign
nations, &c.
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